George Duke: Difference between revisions
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
imported>Mcmarcuschapman Fixed typo |
imported>Yedaman54 No edit summary |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{short description|American musician (1946–2013)}} | {{short description|American musician (1946–2013)}} | ||
{{for|the English football goalkeeper|George Duke (footballer)}} | {{for|the English football goalkeeper|George Duke (footballer)}} | ||
{{Use American English|date=December 2025}} | |||
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2025}} | |||
{{Infobox musical artist <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Musicians --> | {{Infobox musical artist <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Musicians --> | ||
| name = George Duke | | name = George Duke | ||
| image = George Duke | | image = George Duke, 1984-swept.jpg | ||
| caption = Duke | | caption = Duke in 1984 <small>photo: Ken Lubas, [[Los Angeles Times|LA Times]]</small> | ||
| background = solo_singer | | background = solo_singer | ||
| birth_date = {{birth date|1946|01|12}} | | birth_date = {{birth date|1946|01|12}} | ||
| Line 10: | Line 12: | ||
| death_date = {{death date and age|2013|8|5|1946|1|12}} | | death_date = {{death date and age|2013|8|5|1946|1|12}} | ||
| death_place = [[Los Angeles, California]], U.S. | | death_place = [[Los Angeles, California]], U.S. | ||
| instrument = [[Vocals]], [[ | | instrument = [[Vocals]], [[keyboard instrument|keyboards]], [[keytar]] | ||
| genre = {{hlist|[[Jazz fusion]]|[[ | | genre = {{hlist|[[Jazz fusion]]<ref>[https://jazzviews.net/george-duke-from-me-to-you-the-definitive-collection-1977-2000/ George Duke] Jazzviews.net 26 August 2025</ref>|[[crossover jazz]]|[[Funk music|funk]]<!--|[[art rock]]<sup>Ref?! cause of Zappa?</sup>-->|[[jazz funk]]|[[jazz rock]]|[[post-disco]]<ref name=AllmusicL>{{cite web|author=Artist Biography by Thom Jurek |url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/george-duke-mn0000536122/biography |title=George Duke | Biography |website=[[AllMusic]] |date=January 12, 1946 |access-date=August 6, 2013}}</ref>|[[smooth jazz]]}} | ||
| occupation = [[Musician]], [[composer]], [[musical director]], [[Record producer|producer]], [[educator]] | | occupation = [[Musician]], [[composer]], [[musical director]], [[Record producer|producer]], [[educator]] | ||
| years_active = 1966–2013 | | years_active = 1966–2013 | ||
| Line 18: | Line 20: | ||
}} | }} | ||
'''George Martin Duke''' (January 12, 1946 – August 5, 2013)<ref name="Obit">{{Cite news|url=http://www.theguardian.com/music/2013/aug/07/george-duke|title=George Duke obituary|date=August 7, 2013|website=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=August 25, 2021}}</ref> was an American keyboardist, composer, singer-songwriter and record producer. He worked with numerous artists as arranger, music director, writer and co-writer, record producer and as a professor of music. He first made a name for himself with the album ''[[The Jean-Luc Ponty Experience with the George Duke Trio]]''. He | '''George Martin Duke''' (January 12, 1946 – August 5, 2013)<ref name="Obit">{{Cite news|url=http://www.theguardian.com/music/2013/aug/07/george-duke|title=George Duke obituary|date=August 7, 2013|website=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=August 25, 2021}}</ref> was an American keyboardist, composer, singer-songwriter and record producer. He worked with numerous artists as arranger, music director, writer and co-writer, record producer and as a professor of music. He first made a name for himself with the album ''[[The Jean-Luc Ponty Experience with the George Duke Trio]]''. He is known for his 32 solo albums, as well as for his collaborations with other musicians like [[Stanley Clarke]] and (his cousin) [[Dianne Reeves]], but particularly with composer, guitarist and bandleader [[Frank Zappa]]. | ||
==Biography== | ==Biography== | ||
George Martin Duke was born in [[San Rafael, California]], United States,<ref name="Obit"/> to Thadd Duke and Beatrice Burrell, and was raised in [[Marin City]]. At four years of age, he became interested in the piano. His mother took him to see [[Duke Ellington]] in concert and told him about this experience. "I don't remember it too well, but my mother told me I went crazy. I ran around saying 'Get me a piano, get me a piano!{{'"}} He began his formal piano studies at the age of seven at a local Baptist church.<ref name="Official site/biography"/> | George Martin Duke was born in [[San Rafael, California]], United States,<ref name="Obit"/> to Thadd Duke and Beatrice Burrell, and was raised in [[Marin City]] (CA). At four years of age, he became interested in the piano. His mother took him to see [[Duke Ellington]] in concert and told him about this experience. "I don't remember it too well, but my mother told me I went crazy. I ran around saying 'Get me a piano, get me a piano!{{'"}} He began his formal piano studies at the age of seven at a local Baptist church.<ref name="Official site/biography"/> | ||
He attended [[Tamalpais High School]] in [[Mill Valley]] before earning a bachelor's degree in trombone and [[Musical composition|composition]], with a minor in [[contrabass]], from the [[San Francisco Conservatory of Music]] in 1967.<ref name="Official site/biography">{{cite web|url=http://www.georgeduke.com/biography.html|title=George Duke biography |publisher=George Duke Online|access-date=January 30, 2016}}</ref> He earned a master's degree in composition from [[San Francisco State University]] in 1975.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://magazine.sfsu.edu/archive/fall_10/alumni5|title=Duke of Jazz|website=Magazine.sfsu.edu|access-date=July 12, 2018|archive-date=July 12, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180712184001/https://magazine.sfsu.edu/archive/fall_10/alumni5|url-status=dead}}</ref> | He attended [[Tamalpais High School]] in [[Mill Valley]] (CA) before earning a [[bachelor's degree]] in [[trombone]] and [[Musical composition|composition]], with a minor in [[contrabass]], from the [[San Francisco Conservatory of Music]] in 1967.<ref name="Official site/biography">{{cite web|url=http://www.georgeduke.com/biography.html|title=George Duke biography |publisher=George Duke Online|access-date=January 30, 2016}}</ref> He earned a [[master's degree]] in composition from [[San Francisco State University]] in 1975.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://magazine.sfsu.edu/archive/fall_10/alumni5 |title=Duke of Jazz |website=Magazine.sfsu.edu |access-date=July 12, 2018 |archive-date=July 12, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180712184001/https://magazine.sfsu.edu/archive/fall_10/alumni5 |url-status=dead}}</ref> | ||
Although Duke started playing classical music, he credited his cousin [[Charles Burrell (musician)|Charles Burrell]] for convincing him to switch to jazz.<ref name="Coryell">{{cite book |last1=Coryell|first1=Julie |last2=Friedman|first2=Laura |title=Jazz-rock Fusion: The People, the Music |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XwWdk3x9u28C&pg=PA192|access-date=July 16, 2018|year=2000|publisher=Hal Leonard |isbn=978-0-7935-9941-7 |pages=192–}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sde.co.ke/m/pulse/article/2000111793/legendary-jazz-artiste-george-duke-s-final-bow|title=Legendary Jazz Artiste George Duke's Final Bow|first=The Standard|last=Digital|website=Standard Digital News|access-date=March 17, 2018|archive-date=January 4, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170104163136/http://www.sde.co.ke/m/pulse/article/2000111793/legendary-jazz-artiste-george-duke-s-final-bow|url-status=dead}}</ref> He explained that he "wanted to be free" and Burrell "more or less made the decision for me" by convincing him to "improvise and do what you want to do". He taught a course on jazz and American culture at [[Merritt College]] in Oakland.<ref name="Official site/biography"/> | Although Duke started playing classical music, he credited his cousin [[Charles Burrell (musician)|Charles Burrell]] for convincing him to switch to jazz.<ref name="Coryell">{{cite book |last1=Coryell|first1=Julie |last2=Friedman|first2=Laura |title=Jazz-rock Fusion: The People, the Music |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XwWdk3x9u28C&pg=PA192|access-date=July 16, 2018|year=2000|publisher=Hal Leonard |isbn=978-0-7935-9941-7 |pages=192–}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sde.co.ke/m/pulse/article/2000111793/legendary-jazz-artiste-george-duke-s-final-bow|title=Legendary Jazz Artiste George Duke's Final Bow|first=The Standard|last=Digital|website=Standard Digital News|access-date=March 17, 2018 |archive-date=January 4, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170104163136/http://www.sde.co.ke/m/pulse/article/2000111793/legendary-jazz-artiste-george-duke-s-final-bow |url-status=dead}}</ref> He explained that he "wanted to be free" and Burrell "more or less made the decision for me" by convincing him to "improvise and do what you want to do". He taught a course on jazz and American culture at [[Merritt College]] in Oakland.<ref name="Official site/biography"/> | ||
Duke recorded his first album in 1966. His second was with French violinist [[Jean-Luc Ponty]], with whom he performed in San Francisco. After [[Frank Zappa]] and [[Cannonball Adderley]] heard him play, | Duke recorded his first album in 1966. His second was with French violinist [[Jean-Luc Ponty]], with whom he performed in San Francisco. After [[Frank Zappa]] and [[Cannonball Adderley]] heard him play<!--individually-->, both invited him to join their bands. He spent two years with Zappa as a member of [[The Mothers of Invention]], two years with Adderley, then returned to Zappa.<ref name="Jurek">{{cite web |last1=Jurek |first1=Thom |title=George Duke |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/george-duke-mn0000536122/biography |website=AllMusic |access-date=July 16, 2018}}</ref> Zappa, who never played or recorded other than for his own projects, played guitar solos on Duke's album ''Feel'' (1974), after Duke joined him on nine of his albums and toured with the Mothers. In 1975 he recorded with his original drummer [[Peter Magadini|Pete Magadini]] the album ''Polyrhythm'' on Ibis Recordings. He recorded ''[[I Love the Blues, She Heard My Cry]]'' with Zappa's bandmates [[Ruth Underwood]], [[Tom Fowler (bassist)|Tom Fowler]], and [[Bruce Fowler]]<ref name=Watson>Watson, Ben, ''Frank Zappa: The Negative Dialectics of Poodle Play'', St Martin's Press, New York 1993, p. 294.</ref> and jazz guitarist [[Lee Ritenour]].<ref>''I Love the Blues, She Heard My Cry'', MPS/[[BASF (record label)|BASF]] (5071 or MC 25671, a.o.) 1975, [https://www.discogs.com/release/51356-George-Duke-I-Love-The-Blues-She-Heard-My-Cry/image/SW1hZ2U6NjM5MzA3MTg= sleeve notes] on [[Discogs]].</ref> | ||
Duke occasionally recorded under the name Dawilli Gonga, possibly for contractual reasons, when appearing on other artists' albums.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.radioswissjazz.ch/en/music-database/musician/930852fd554704444bbe818c7bbac93ae547/biography|title=George Duke|website=Radioswissjazz.ch}}</ref> | [[File:Stanley Clarke & George Duke.jpg|thumb|left|Duke in concert with [[Stanley Clarke]], 2010]] | ||
Duke occasionally recorded under the name Dawilli Gonga,<ref>[https://www.discogs.com/artist/373680-Dawilli-Gonga Entry as Dawilli Gonga] on Discogs.</ref> possibly for contractual reasons, when appearing on other artists' albums.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.radioswissjazz.ch/en/music-database/musician/930852fd554704444bbe818c7bbac93ae547/biography |title=George Duke |website=Radioswissjazz.ch}}</ref> | |||
In 1977, Duke fused jazz with pop, funk, and soul music on his album ''From Me to You''. Later, that same year, his album ''Reach for It'' entered the pop charts, and his audiences increased. | In 1977, Duke fused jazz with pop, funk, and soul music on his album ''From Me to You''. Later, that same year, his album ''Reach for It'' entered the pop charts, and his audiences increased. | ||
In 1981, he began a collaboration with bassist [[Stanley Clarke]] that would last through the 1980s, which combined pop, jazz, funk, and R&B. | In 1981, he began a collaboration with bassist [[Stanley Clarke]] that would last through the 1980s, which combined pop, jazz, funk, and [[Rhythm and blues|R&B]]. [[The Clarke/Duke Project|Their first album]] contained the single "[[Sweet Baby (George Duke & Stanley Clarke song)|Sweet Baby]]",<ref name="remembers">{{cite news| last1=Clarke | first1=Stanley |title=Stanley Clarke Remembers George Duke | url=https://jazztimes.com/departments/farewells/stanley-clarke-remembers-george-duke/ | website=[[JazzTimes]] | access-date=September 19, 2017 |date=March 24, 2014}}</ref><ref name="meeting">{{cite news|last1=Kohlhaase |first1=Bill |title=2 Musicians with a Meeting of the Minds |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-07-17-ca-401-story.html | newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |access-date=September 19, 2017|date=July 17, 1990}}</ref> which became a [[Record chart|Top 20]] pop hit, reaching Number 19 on the [[Billboard Magazine]] [[Billboard Hot 100|Hot 100]] and Number 6 on the [[R&B charts]].<sup>Ref missing</sup> | ||
During the 1980s, Duke's career moved to a second phase as he spent much of his time as a record producer. He produced pop and R&B hits for [[A Taste of Honey (band)|A Taste of Honey]], [[Jeffrey Osborne]], and [[Deniece Williams]]. His clients included [[Anita Baker]], [[Rachelle Ferrell]], [[Everette Harp]], [[Gladys Knight]], [[Melissa Manchester]], [[Barry Manilow]], [[The Pointer Sisters]], [[Smokey Robinson]], [[Seawind (band)|Seawind]], and [[Take 6]].<ref name="Jurek" /> | During the 1980s, Duke's career moved to a second phase as he spent much of his time as a record producer. He produced pop and R&B hits for [[A Taste of Honey (band)|A Taste of Honey]], [[Jeffrey Osborne]], and [[Deniece Williams]]. His clients included [[Anita Baker]], [[Rachelle Ferrell]], [[Everette Harp]], [[Gladys Knight]], [[Melissa Manchester]], [[Barry Manilow]], [[The Pointer Sisters]], [[Smokey Robinson]], [[Seawind (band)|Seawind]], and [[Take 6]].<ref name="Jurek" /> | ||
Duke worked as musical director at the 1988 [[Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Tribute]] concert at [[Wembley Stadium (1924)|Wembley Stadium]] in London. In 1989, he temporarily replaced [[Marcus Miller]] as musical director of NBC's late-night music performance program ''[[Sunday Night (American TV program)|Sunday Night]]'' during its first season.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jazz Legend George Duke Dies at 67 |url=https://www.bet.com/article/c5vwaa/jazz-legend-george-duke-dies-at-67 |access-date=January 14, 2024 |website=BET |language=en}}</ref><ref> | Duke worked as musical director at the 1988 [[Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Tribute]] concert at [[Wembley Stadium (1924)|Wembley Stadium]] in London. In 1989, he temporarily replaced [[Marcus Miller]] as musical director of NBC's late-night music performance program ''[[Sunday Night (American TV program)|Sunday Night]]'' during its first season.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jazz Legend George Duke Dies at 67 |url=https://www.bet.com/article/c5vwaa/jazz-legend-george-duke-dies-at-67 |access-date=January 14, 2024 |website=BET |language=en}}</ref><ref>''Sunday Night,'' episodes No. 104 (1988), No. 113 (1989), No. 114 (1989), No. 121 (1989).<sup>Ref missing</sup></ref> He was a judge for the second annual [[AIM Independent Music Awards|Independent Music Awards (AIM)]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.independentmusicawards.com/ima_new/pastjudges.asp |title=Independent Music Awards |publisher=Independent Music Awards |access-date=August 6, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713024722/http://www.independentmusicawards.com/ima_new/pastjudges.asp |archive-date=July 13, 2011 }}</ref> | ||
He died on August 5, 2013 in Los Angeles, at the age of 67 from [[chronic lymphocytic leukemia]].<ref>{{Cite news|last=Yardley|first=William|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/07/arts/music/george-duke-crossover-musician-with-frank-zappa-dies-at-67.html|title=George Duke, Keyboardist Who Crossed Genres Boundaries, Dies at 67|newspaper=New York Times|date=August 6, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Lewis|first=Randy|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/posts/la-et-ms-george-duke-dies-obituary-jazz-fusion-20130806-story.html|title=Jazz fusion pioneer George Duke dies at 67|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=August 6, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine|last=Coulehan|first=Erin|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/george-duke-jazz-keyboardist-dead-at-67-202262/|title=George Duke, Jazz Keyboardist, Dead at 67|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=August 6, 2013}}</ref> | He died on August 5, 2013 in Los Angeles, at the age of 67 from [[chronic lymphocytic leukemia]].<ref>{{Cite news|last=Yardley |first=William |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/07/arts/music/george-duke-crossover-musician-with-frank-zappa-dies-at-67.html |title=George Duke, Keyboardist Who Crossed Genres Boundaries, Dies at 67 |newspaper=New York Times |date=August 6, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Lewis |first=Randy |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/posts/la-et-ms-george-duke-dies-obituary-jazz-fusion-20130806-story.html |title=Jazz fusion pioneer George Duke dies at 67 |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |date=August 6, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine|last=Coulehan |first=Erin |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/george-duke-jazz-keyboardist-dead-at-67-202262/ |title=George Duke, Jazz Keyboardist, Dead at 67 |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=August 6, 2013}}</ref> | ||
==Awards and honors== | ==Awards and honors== | ||
===Grammy awards=== | ===Grammy awards=== | ||
The [[Grammy Award]]s are awarded annually by the [[National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences]]. Duke has received two awards out of nine nominations.<ref name="Grammy">{{cite web |date= |title=George Duke |url=https://www.grammy.com/artists/george-duke/2208 |access-date=July 9, 2023 |website=grammy.com}}</ref> | The [[Grammy Award]]s are awarded annually by the [[National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences]]. Duke has received two awards out of nine nominations.<ref name="Grammy">{{cite web |date= |title=George Duke |url=https://www.grammy.com/artists/george-duke/2208 |access-date=July 9, 2023 |website=grammy.com}}</ref> | ||
[[File:George Duke Performing on Keyboard in 2010.jpg|thumb|Duke performing on keyboards in 2010]] | |||
{| class="wikitable sortable" | {| class="wikitable sortable" | ||
| Line 60: | Line 64: | ||
|1985 | |1985 | ||
|[[Grammy Award for Best Album for Children|Best Recording for Children]] | |[[Grammy Award for Best Album for Children|Best Recording for Children]] | ||
|"We Are | |"We Are the World (single)" | ||
|{{nom}} | |{{nom}} | ||
|- | |- | ||
|1990 | |1990 | ||
|"[[Grammy Award for Best Arrangement, Instrumental and Vocals|Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocal(s)]]" | |"[[Grammy Award for Best Arrangement, Instrumental and Vocals|Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocal(s)]]" | ||
|Fumilayo ( | |Fumilayo (track) | ||
|{{nom}} | |{{nom}} | ||
|- | |- | ||
|rowspan=2|1998 | |rowspan=2|1998 | ||
|[[Grammy Award for Best Arrangement, Instrumental and Vocals|Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocal(s)]] | |[[Grammy Award for Best Arrangement, Instrumental and Vocals|Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocal(s)]] | ||
||"The Look | ||"The Look of Love (track)" | ||
|{{nom}} | |{{nom}} | ||
|- | |- | ||
| Line 88: | Line 92: | ||
|2001 | |2001 | ||
|[[Grammy Award for Best Jazz Vocal Album|Best Jazz Vocal Album]] | |[[Grammy Award for Best Jazz Vocal Album|Best Jazz Vocal Album]] | ||
||"[[The Calling: Celebrating Sarah Vaughan | ||"[[The Calling: Celebrating Sarah Vaughan]]" | ||
|{{won}} | |{{won}} | ||
|- | |- | ||
| Line 102: | Line 106: | ||
!Year | !Year | ||
!Category | !Category | ||
!Nominated | !Nominated work | ||
!Result | !Result | ||
|- | |- | ||
|1993 | |1993 | ||
|Contemporary Black Gospel Album | |Contemporary Black Gospel Album | ||
|Handel's Messiah: A Soulful Celebration<ref name=IMDB>{{cite web|url=https://m.imdb.com/name/nm0241183/awards/|title=George Duke - Awards|publisher=[[IMDB]]|website=imdb.com}}</ref> | |Handel's Messiah: A Soulful Celebration<ref name=IMDB>{{cite web|url=https://m.imdb.com/name/nm0241183/awards/|title=George Duke - Awards |publisher=[[IMDB]] |website=imdb.com}}</ref> | ||
|{{won}} | |{{won}} | ||
|} | |} | ||
| Line 116: | Line 120: | ||
!Year | !Year | ||
!Category | !Category | ||
!Nominated | !Nominated work | ||
!Result | !Result | ||
|- | |- | ||
| Line 126: | Line 130: | ||
===Other honors=== | ===Other honors=== | ||
Duke was inducted into The SoulMusic Hall of Fame at [[Soulmusic.com|SoulMusic.com]]<ref name="soulmusic1">{{cite web |title=The Soulmusic Hall of Fame: Legacy (Posthumous) (Inductees) |url=https://soulmusic.com/uk_soul_artist_group/legacy-posthumous |website=Soulmusic.com |access-date=October 18, 2018 }}</ref> | |||
[[Al Jarreau]] recorded the tribute album ''My Old Friend: Celebrating George Duke'' (Concord, 2014) with songs written by Duke. Appearing on the album were [[Gerald Albright]], [[Stanley Clarke]], [[Dr. John]], [[Lalah Hathaway]], [[Boney James]], [[Marcus Miller]], [[Jeffrey Osborne]], [[Greg Phillinganes]], [[Kelly Price]], [[Dianne Reeves]] | [[Al Jarreau]] recorded the tribute album ''My Old Friend: Celebrating George Duke'' (Concord, 2014) with songs written by Duke. Appearing on the album were [[Gerald Albright]], [[Stanley Clarke]], [[Dr. John]], [[Lalah Hathaway]], [[Boney James]], [[Marcus Miller]], [[Jeffrey Osborne]], [[Greg Phillinganes]], [[Kelly Price]], [[Dianne Reeves]], and [[Patrice Rushen]]. The album received the 2015 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Jazz Album.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.billboard.com/articles/6207037/al-jarreau-salutes-george-duke-my-old-friend |title = Al Jarreau Salutes George Duke on New Star-Packed Album |date = August 5, 2014 |access-date = January 30, 2016 |website = Billboard.com |last = Mitchell |first = Gail}}</ref> | ||
==Discography== | ==Discography== | ||
{{main|George Duke discography}} | {{main|George Duke discography}} | ||
{{div col}} | {{div col}} | ||
* ''The George Duke Quartet Presented | * ''The George Duke Quartet Presented by the [[Jazz Workshop]] 1966 of San Francisco'' (1966) | ||
* ''Save the Country'' (1970) | * ''Save the Country'' (1970) | ||
* ''The Inner Source'' (1973) | * ''The Inner Source'' (1973) | ||
| Line 145: | Line 147: | ||
* ''[[From Me to You (George Duke album)|From Me to You]]'' (1977) | * ''[[From Me to You (George Duke album)|From Me to You]]'' (1977) | ||
* ''[[Reach for It]]'' (1977) | * ''[[Reach for It]]'' (1977) | ||
* ''[[The Dream (George Duke album)|The Dream]]'' ( | * ''[[The Dream (George Duke album)|The Dream]]'' (a.k.a. ''The 1976 Solo Keyboard Album'') (1978) | ||
* ''[[Don't Let Go (George Duke album)|Don't Let Go]]'' (1978) | * ''[[Don't Let Go (George Duke album)|Don't Let Go]]'' (1978) | ||
* ''[[Follow the Rainbow]]'' (1979) | * ''[[Follow the Rainbow]]'' (1979) | ||
* ''[[Master of the Game (George Duke album)|Master of the Game]]'' (1979) | * ''[[Master of the Game (George Duke album)|Master of the Game]]'' (1979) | ||
* ''[[A Brazilian Love Affair]]'' (1980) | * ''[[A Brazilian Love Affair]]'' (1980) | ||
* ''[[The Clarke/Duke Project]] | * ''[[The Clarke/Duke Project]]'' with [[Stanley Clarke]] (1981) | ||
* ''[[Dream On (album)|Dream On]]'' (1982) | * ''[[Dream On (album)|Dream On]]'' (1982) | ||
* ''[[Guardian of the Light]]'' (1983) | * ''[[Guardian of the Light]]'' (1983) | ||
Latest revision as of 20:10, 26 December 2025
Template:Short description Script error: No such module "For". Template:Use American English Template:Use mdy dates Script error: No such module "Infobox".Template:Template otherScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
George Martin Duke (January 12, 1946 – August 5, 2013)[1] was an American keyboardist, composer, singer-songwriter and record producer. He worked with numerous artists as arranger, music director, writer and co-writer, record producer and as a professor of music. He first made a name for himself with the album The Jean-Luc Ponty Experience with the George Duke Trio. He is known for his 32 solo albums, as well as for his collaborations with other musicians like Stanley Clarke and (his cousin) Dianne Reeves, but particularly with composer, guitarist and bandleader Frank Zappa.
Biography
George Martin Duke was born in San Rafael, California, United States,[1] to Thadd Duke and Beatrice Burrell, and was raised in Marin City (CA). At four years of age, he became interested in the piano. His mother took him to see Duke Ellington in concert and told him about this experience. "I don't remember it too well, but my mother told me I went crazy. I ran around saying 'Get me a piano, get me a piano!Template:'" He began his formal piano studies at the age of seven at a local Baptist church.[2]
He attended Tamalpais High School in Mill Valley (CA) before earning a bachelor's degree in trombone and composition, with a minor in contrabass, from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music in 1967.[2] He earned a master's degree in composition from San Francisco State University in 1975.[3]
Although Duke started playing classical music, he credited his cousin Charles Burrell for convincing him to switch to jazz.[4][5] He explained that he "wanted to be free" and Burrell "more or less made the decision for me" by convincing him to "improvise and do what you want to do". He taught a course on jazz and American culture at Merritt College in Oakland.[2]
Duke recorded his first album in 1966. His second was with French violinist Jean-Luc Ponty, with whom he performed in San Francisco. After Frank Zappa and Cannonball Adderley heard him play, both invited him to join their bands. He spent two years with Zappa as a member of The Mothers of Invention, two years with Adderley, then returned to Zappa.[6] Zappa, who never played or recorded other than for his own projects, played guitar solos on Duke's album Feel (1974), after Duke joined him on nine of his albums and toured with the Mothers. In 1975 he recorded with his original drummer Pete Magadini the album Polyrhythm on Ibis Recordings. He recorded I Love the Blues, She Heard My Cry with Zappa's bandmates Ruth Underwood, Tom Fowler, and Bruce Fowler[7] and jazz guitarist Lee Ritenour.[8]
Duke occasionally recorded under the name Dawilli Gonga,[9] possibly for contractual reasons, when appearing on other artists' albums.[10]
In 1977, Duke fused jazz with pop, funk, and soul music on his album From Me to You. Later, that same year, his album Reach for It entered the pop charts, and his audiences increased. In 1981, he began a collaboration with bassist Stanley Clarke that would last through the 1980s, which combined pop, jazz, funk, and R&B. Their first album contained the single "Sweet Baby",[11][12] which became a Top 20 pop hit, reaching Number 19 on the Billboard Magazine Hot 100 and Number 6 on the R&B charts.Ref missing
During the 1980s, Duke's career moved to a second phase as he spent much of his time as a record producer. He produced pop and R&B hits for A Taste of Honey, Jeffrey Osborne, and Deniece Williams. His clients included Anita Baker, Rachelle Ferrell, Everette Harp, Gladys Knight, Melissa Manchester, Barry Manilow, The Pointer Sisters, Smokey Robinson, Seawind, and Take 6.[6]
Duke worked as musical director at the 1988 Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Tribute concert at Wembley Stadium in London. In 1989, he temporarily replaced Marcus Miller as musical director of NBC's late-night music performance program Sunday Night during its first season.[13][14] He was a judge for the second annual Independent Music Awards (AIM).[15]
He died on August 5, 2013 in Los Angeles, at the age of 67 from chronic lymphocytic leukemia.[16][17][18]
Awards and honors
Grammy awards
The Grammy Awards are awarded annually by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. Duke has received two awards out of nine nominations.[19]
| Year | Category | Nominated work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal | The Clarke/Duke Project | Nominated |
| 1985 | Best Recording for Children | "We Are the World (single)" | Nominated |
| 1990 | "Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocal(s)" | Fumilayo (track) | Nominated |
| 1998 | Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocal(s) | "The Look of Love (track)" | Nominated |
| Best Contemporary Jazz Performance | "After Hours" | Nominated | |
| 2000 | Best Traditional R&B Vocal Album | "Cool" | Nominated |
| Best Jazz Vocal Album | "In the Moment – Live in Concert" | Won | |
| 2001 | Best Jazz Vocal Album | "The Calling: Celebrating Sarah Vaughan" | Won |
| 2005 | Best Pop Instrumental Performance | "T-Jam" | Nominated |
GMA Dove Awards
| Year | Category | Nominated work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Contemporary Black Gospel Album | Handel's Messiah: A Soulful Celebration[20] | Won |
Soul Train Awards
| Year | Category | Nominated work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Best Contemporary Jazz Artist/Group | Won[20] |
Other honors
Duke was inducted into The SoulMusic Hall of Fame at SoulMusic.com[21]
Al Jarreau recorded the tribute album My Old Friend: Celebrating George Duke (Concord, 2014) with songs written by Duke. Appearing on the album were Gerald Albright, Stanley Clarke, Dr. John, Lalah Hathaway, Boney James, Marcus Miller, Jeffrey Osborne, Greg Phillinganes, Kelly Price, Dianne Reeves, and Patrice Rushen. The album received the 2015 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Jazz Album.[22]
Discography
Script error: No such module "Labelled list hatnote".
<templatestyles src="Div col/styles.css"/>
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
- The George Duke Quartet Presented by the Jazz Workshop 1966 of San Francisco (1966)
- Save the Country (1970)
- The Inner Source (1973)
- Faces in Reflection (1974)
- Feel (1974)
- The Aura Will Prevail (1975)
- I Love the Blues, She Heard My Cry (1975)
- Liberated Fantasies (1976)
- From Me to You (1977)
- Reach for It (1977)
- The Dream (a.k.a. The 1976 Solo Keyboard Album) (1978)
- Don't Let Go (1978)
- Follow the Rainbow (1979)
- Master of the Game (1979)
- A Brazilian Love Affair (1980)
- The Clarke/Duke Project with Stanley Clarke (1981)
- Dream On (1982)
- Guardian of the Light (1983)
- Rendezvous (1984)
- Thief in the Night (1985)
- George Duke (1986)
- Night After Night (1989)
- Snapshot (1992)
- Illusions (1995)
- Is Love Enough? (1997)
- After Hours (1998)
- Cool (2000)
- Face the Music (2002)
- Duke (2005)
- In a Mellow Tone (2006)
- Dukey Treats (2008)
- Déjà Vu (2010)
- DreamWeaver (2013)
References
<templatestyles src="Reflist/styles.css" />
- ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ a b c Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Watson, Ben, Frank Zappa: The Negative Dialectics of Poodle Play, St Martin's Press, New York 1993, p. 294.
- ↑ I Love the Blues, She Heard My Cry, MPS/BASF (5071 or MC 25671, a.o.) 1975, sleeve notes on Discogs.
- ↑ Entry as Dawilli Gonga on Discogs.
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Sunday Night, episodes No. 104 (1988), No. 113 (1989), No. 114 (1989), No. 121 (1989).Ref missing
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
External links
- Script error: No such module "Official website".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
- Template:Trim/ Template:PAGENAMEBASE at IMDbTemplate:EditAtWikidataScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
- George Duke at NPR Music
- Template:PAGENAMEBASE discography at Discogs
- Template:PAGENAMEBASE at Find a GraveTemplate:EditAtWikidata
- 2009 interview at All About Jazz
- 2010 interview
- George Duke Interview at NAMM Oral History Collection (2010)
- 2012 Interview: Part 1 Template:Webarchive, Part 2 Template:Webarchive
Categories:
- Pages with script errors
- Pages with broken file links
- 1946 births
- 2013 deaths
- 20th-century American keyboardists
- 21st-century American keyboardists
- American boogie musicians
- American dance musicians
- American funk keyboardists
- American jazz composers
- American jazz keyboardists
- American jazz pianists
- American male jazz composers
- American male jazz pianists
- American rhythm and blues keyboardists
- American soul keyboardists
- American television composers
- Atlantic Records artists
- BASF (record label) artists
- Cannonball Adderley Quintet members
- Deaths from chronic lymphocytic leukemia
- Deaths from leukemia in California
- Elektra Records artists
- Epic Records artists
- Grammy Award winners
- Heads Up International artists
- Jazz musicians from California
- MPS Records artists
- Musicians from San Rafael, California
- Musicians from Marin County, California
- Progressive rock keyboardists
- Progressive rock pianists
- San Francisco Conservatory of Music alumni
- San Francisco State University alumni
- Smooth jazz pianists
- Tamalpais High School alumni
- The Mothers of Invention members
- The Phil Collins Big Band members
- Warner Records artists